Good Sports: Signing with Sacramento

Compiled/partly written by Melvin Durai

August 2014

The NBA’s Sacramento Kings have
an Indian-American owner, Vivek Ranadive,
and recently signed a seven-foot-five
player of Indian descent. Indo-Canadian
Sim Bhullar became the first person of Indian
origin to join an NBA team when he
signed a summer contract with the Kings.
He turned pro after just two seasons at
New Mexico State University, where he
averaged 10 points, 8 rebounds and 3
blocks during his sophomore year.

“Guys my size don’t have very long
careers and you have to take advantage of
it and do the best you can with the time
you have to play,”
Bhullar told Canada’s
Globe and
Mail, explaining
his decision to
leave college early. “I didn’t want to get
hurt in another college season and ruin
my chances.”

He has dreamed of playing in the NBA
since he was a child growing up in Toronto.
Making the final roster of the Kings
and actually playing in an NBA game is
the next challenge for Bhullar, as he tries
to keep his dream alive.

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